American Diabetes Association Alert Day set for March 25

Tuesday, March 25, is the 26th Annual American Diabetes Association Alert Day, a one-day, “wake-up call” asking the American public to take the Diabetes Risk Test to find out if they are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Americans are urged to take the risk test, share it, and start living a healthy and active lifestyle. One way to do this is by joining one of the Association’s Step Out®: Walk to Stop Diabetes® events, which happen locally in October.

Diabetes is a serious disease that strikes nearly 26 million Americans including approximately 600,000, or more than 8%, of people in New Jersey. A quarter of those affected by diabetes are not aware that they have the disease. An additional 79 million, or one in three American adults, have prediabetes which means that their blood glucose (sugar) is higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association is fighting to Stop Diabetes and takes the opportunity of Alert Day to help identify those who are undiagnosed and those at risk for type 2 diabetes, by educating people about diabetes risk factors and warning signs. Early diagnosis is critical to successful treatment and delaying or preventing some of its complications such as heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, stroke, amputation and death.

The public can be part of the movement to Stop Diabetes and get their free Diabetes Risk Test (English or Spanish), as well as information about diabetes and joining a Step Out event by visiting www.diabetes.org/nj or by calling 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). You will be asked to answer simple questions about weight, age, family history and other potential risks for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Walgreens is supporting the American Diabetes Association Alert Day efforts and you can ask your local Walgreens pharmacist for a copy of the Diabetes Risk Test.

Although Alert Day is a one-day event, the Diabetes Risk Test is available year-round. The day is sponsored locally by BD, Quest and Novo Nordisk.

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes® and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information, call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.